Removing machine oil from mech mod

[Pensilac]

I got an Infinite Stingray X clone last week and I'm having a hard time removing the machine oil from it. I went at it with some "ultra concentrated" Dawn for over an hour the night I got it, going between paper towels, q-tips, and a tooth brush to try to remove the stuff and it didn't look like I made any progress at all with it. The smell of the oil is gone but it is still visible all over the threads and the inside of the tubes.

I picked up some 70% isopropyl alcohol today and I've had the mod sitting in it disassembled for probably 4-5 hours. I've been checking on it every hour or so and trying to clean off some of the oil with some q-tips but it still doesn't seem I'm getting anywhere. Not sure if I should have gotten some higher percentage IPA but it doesn't appear to be doing the trick, I'm thinking of leaving it in overnight in hopes that tomorrow morning the stuff will have finally loosened up though.

Anyone have any other suggestions for what I could try to clean this stuff off? I didn't have any trouble at all cleaning the stuff off my Nemesis when I first got it or any of my RDAs.

 

[Wraith504]

I use 97 percent bought at walmart for about 2.50 LoL. Havent had any issues as of yet.

 

[ScottChensoda]

Try stripping all the parts down, put them in a pan of water along with a squirt of dish soap and boil it. Once it starts to boil, let it for 5 mins. A loose rinse under a hot tap and it should do it nicely.

 

[stevegmu]

MEK, then rinse...

 

[Pensilac]

Try stripping all the parts down, put them in a pan of water along with a squirt of dish soap and boil it. Once it starts to boil, let it for 5 mins. A loose rinse under a hot tap and it should do it nicely.

Maybe I'll give this a shot in a bit. Leaving it over night in the alcohol didn't seem to have any affect on the oil though the exposed copper is looking quite nice and shiny now.

MEK, then rinse...

I'll see maybe if I can find some of this stuff today, I've never heard of it before. How long would you suggest leaving the parts in it? I was only able to find a couple people mentioning this stuff for cleaning mechs, one stating not to use it on plastic so I suppose I'll have to leave the top section of the switch out of that to avoid ruining the delrin.


Anyone else have any other suggestions to get rid of this stuff? I'm almost thinking it's not even machine oil left on there at this point, I can't imagine it being that difficult to remove.

 

[stevegmu]

I think a paint store or Home Depot or Lowes would have it. We get it at work in 55gal. drums. It evaporates very quickly on a cloth or when sprayed on and cleans everything, but will cloud plastic. I would just soak a rag with it and clean the mod with it, then rinse or wipe.

 

[classwife]

I think I would be more concerned as to what the heck it is that Dawn would not remove it....eeeewwwww...

 

[MrPlink]

For this purpose acetone would work as well as mek.
But honestly Ive been able to remove anything just by soaking in some coke (the regular kind) for 10 or 15 mins then rinsing in warm water.

 

[icemanistheking]

My Tilemahos had machine oil remnants...one 8 minute session with white vinegar in the ultrasonic got it all out.

 

[Cyrus Vap]

Lemon juice or ketchup soak for a few minutes followed my soapy bath and rinse. Seriously.

I just went through the same ordeal with an Hcigar Stingray. It looked like residual machine oil that no amount of soap water and toothbrush could address. It came off however like good old oxidation in response to ketchup (takes 5-15mins in my experience but I check every few mins. )

Trust me it works !

 

[zoiDman]

MEK, then rinse...

Methyl Ethyl Ketone... Wow?

That would be about the Last thing I would recommend to someone. Especially someone who might not Know or Understand how to Safely Handle a Solvent like that.

 

[zoiDman]

My Tilemahos had machine oil remnants...one 8 minute session with white vinegar in the ultrasonic got it all out.

Vinegar is Great for all kinds of things.

From BBQ Grilles to Unclogging a Slow Drain. And about 573 Things in-between.

 

[icemanistheking]

Yeah, I use either white vinegar or 97% isopropyl alcohol for all my vape-related cleaning. I switch between the two, but honestly, I think vinegar does a better job and is effective for a wider variety of things (rust, for example).

 

[roxynoodle]

Haven't tried it yet on e cig items, but boiling in a 50% water, 50% white vinegar mix with a bit of salt sure can remove tarnish fro metals.

 

[KurrptSenate]

simply green + ultra sonic cleaner always does the trick for me

 

[stevegmu]

Methyl Ethyl Ketone... Wow?

That would be about the Last thing I would recommend to someone. Especially someone who might not Know or Understand how to Safely Handle a Solvent like that.

If one follows the directions on the container, there is no issue with using MEK... You know another use for MEK? Cleaning surgical equipment...

 

[zoiDman]

Yeah, I use either white vinegar or 97% isopropyl alcohol for all my vape-related cleaning. I switch between the two, but honestly, I think vinegar does a better job and is effective for a wider variety of things (rust, for example).

Vinegar works Great to Soak Rusty Parts in.

And you don't end up with Something that you Can't Pour down the Drain when you're done.

 

[stevegmu]

MEK completely evaporates on a rag. There's nothing to put down the drain...

 

[zoiDman]

If one follows the directions on the container, there is no issue with using MEK... You know another use for MEK? Cleaning surgical equipment...

You do not feel there are Any Health or Environmental Risks to using Methyl Ethyl Ketone?

OK... But why would someone Use MEK when there are Many Other Viable Alternatives?

BTW - You and your Wife have had all the Children that you want to have. Right?

 

[zoiDman]

MEK completely evaporates on a rag. There's nothing to put down the drain...

What do you Do with the Quart Can of MEK when you realize what a Harmful Chemical it Truly is?